By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 17 Mar: Following the resignation of Rishikesh MLA Premchand Aggarwal from his position as Cabinet Minister, speculation is rife in political circles about an imminent cabinet expansion. Today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) at Raj Bhawan, further fuelling discussion that the cabinet reshuffle may happen soon.
The issue of cabinet expansion has been a recurring topic of debate over the past three years. However, with Aggarwal’s resignation, the exercise now seems unavoidable. Political observers note that this will be a challenging task for CM Dhami, as he must balance the inclusion of deserving candidates from among party MLAs with regional and caste considerations.
Aggarwal’s resignation has left five vacancies in the Council of Ministers. Uttarakhand, with its 70-member state assembly, can have a maximum of 12 ministers, including the Chief Minister. When Dhami was sworn in for his second term on 23 March 2022, he left three slots vacant in his council. The demise of Cabinet Minister Chandan Ram Das, who represented the Bageshwar constituency, on 26 April 2023, increased the number of vacancies to four. With Aggarwal’s resignation, the number has now risen to five, making it increasingly difficult for CM Dhami to leave these positions unfilled, especially given the current imbalances in the cabinet.
Currently, Pauri district has two ministers namely, Satpal Maharaj and Dhan Singh Rawat, along with Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan. Champawat is represented by CM Dhami, while Saurabh Bahuguna represents Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar district. Almora has one representative, Rekha Arya, from the Someshwar constituency. However, Haridwar and Dehradun remain unrepresented, adding pressure on the CM to include ministers from these regions. Nainital and Uttarkashi have also been without any representation since the government’s formation.
Aggarwal’s resignation has also left the cabinet without a native representative from the plains. Even Saurabh Bahuguna, who represents the plains constituency of Sitarganj, hails from Pauri. Political analysts argue that Pauri district dominates the cabinet, and if the Speaker is included, it receives “undue” representation. While merit should ideally guide the selection of ministers, analysts acknowledge that regional and caste balance, as well as the CM’s personal preferences, often play a significant role in Indian politics and can’t be ignored easily.
Sources within the BJP suggest that senior leaders like Madan Kaushik from Haridwar, Vinod Chamoli, and Munna Singh Chauhan from Dehradun are strong contenders for cabinet positions. Aspirants from Uttarkashi, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar are also vying for inclusion. Some sources speculate that Dhami may introduce unexpected names or reshuffle existing portfolios. While there are rumours that some current ministers may be asked to resign, most political observers dismiss this possibility due to the significant risks involved.
Speculation is also rife about the timing of the cabinet expansion. Some BJP insiders suggest that the reshuffle could take place as early as 22 March.
